Beans are a staple in most African households, and increasingly even in the Western house with the recent embracing of vegan lifestyles. Being innovative people, Africans have established a plethora of flavoursome dishes which have cowpeas as their base. Popular examples are moin moin and akara. These dishes start off as cowpea paste and then […]
Blog
Beans and Plantain Pottage Recipe
Many legumes are used in cooking throughout Africa. While the pods of most of them can be eaten when fresh and young as a green vegetable, the vast majority of ‘beans and peas’ are dried. The most widespread and readily available bean is the cowpea (otherwise known as black eyed peas), of which there are […]
Cassava (garri)
Cassava (Manihot utilissima) is commonly known as manioc, tapioca or arrowroot. In Yoruba it is called Ege, in Ibo it is Akpu and in Hausa it is Rogo. Cassava is believed to have been introduced into West Africa from Brazil by Portuguese explorers. It is now one of the most widely cultivated staple foods. It […]
Locust Beans (Iru)
Locust Beans are called iru in Yoruba, Eginili Igala in Ibo, Ete Edi Uku in Efik and Kalwa in Hausa. The fruit of the African locust bean tree has a pulp in which is embedded many small seeds. The pulp is dried in some areas for addition to soups, rice and cereals. A drink called […]
Coconut Poundo
The coconut (cocos nucifera) is the seed of the coconut palm. Coconut is fairly rich in protein and oil. Coconut meat is used as a snack or in combination with other foods as a light meal. For example, in West African, fresh coconut is served with soaked garri or roasted fresh corn. The coconut milk […]
Red Peppers
When you think of red peppers, which comes to mind? There are in fact so many variants of red peppers (capsicum). The species range in terms of taste from sweet, to bitter, to heat! They come in both fresh and dried form. The dried peppers (such as Cameroon Pepper) are sold whole or ground and […]
Banga Soup Recipe
The fruits of the oil palm are used in food, mainly as a source of refined oil. The husked fruits are also used fresh by extracting and sieving the unrefined oil containing pulp to prepare banga soups. The palm kernel within there remaining hard, thick shelled nut is also frequently eaten as a snack. The […]
Common African Herbs used in Cooking
Africa has an abundance of herbs that are widely used in cooking. Here is some background to a few of them and their common uses. AFRICAN LEMON GRASS: This easily cultivated herb is known as koko oba in Yoruba, achara ehi in Ibo, ikonti in Efik and myoyaka in Ibibio. It is commonly used for […]
Meat Pepper Soup Recipe
We promised you the recipe and here it is! The alternative African flu jab! Pepper soup – the tasty, mouth-watering nasal cleanser. When all you need is a simple meal with delicate proteins and packed with important vitamins – this is not a hard choice. ENJOY! Our authentic Pepper Soup Spice contains ginger (zingiber officinale). […]
Curried Chicken Recipe
Hello yummy chicken! This week’s recipe is for a delicious curried chicken. Our all in one hit wonder Ami Ami Spice is key in the seasoning and making of this wonderfully tasty chicken curry. Let’s talk a little more about our famous Ami Ami Spice, which is really our signature spice mix. Ami Ami is a […]